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Monday, February 7, 2011

Donna F. Crow's "A Very Private Grave"

We're happy to have Donna Fletcher Crow with us today talking about her book A Very Private Grave. To learn more about Donna and her book, read on!

Title: A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE, Book 1 The Monastery MurdersPublisher: Monarch Books

Cover blurb:
Felicity Howard, a young American studying at the College of the Transfiguration in Yorkshire, is devastated when she finds her beloved Fr. Dominic bludgeoned to death and Fr. Antony, her church history lecturer, soaked in his blood. . .
A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE is a contemporary novel with a thoroughly modern heroine who must learn some ancient truths in order to solve the mystery and save her own life, as she and Fr. Antony flee a murderer and follow clues that take them to out-of-the-way sites across northern England and southern Scotland. The narrative deftly mixes detection, intellectual puzzles, spiritual aspiration, romance and the solving of clues ancient and modern.

1) How did this story come to you?
I have wanted to tell St. Cuthbert’s story every since I encountered him at Durham Cathedral some twenty years ago. When my daughter went to study in a monastery in Yorkshire the story came together for me.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
And what a journey it’s been! I had been offered three previous contracts for this book but something always got in the way, such as another story seeming more urgent. Then, after publishing 30 novels, My career flat-lined and I was out of the publishing loop for 10 years, although I was still writing. Things came together for me when I finished this book and my agent Janet Benrey took it to Tony Collins at Monarch Books. Truly a case of “all things working together for good.”

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I am a former rodeo queen and runner-up for Miss Rodeo America.
I will do anything for research, including rappelling into a lava cave.
I have no sense of direction and maintain that I should be allowed to park in handicapped spaces because it’s a form of internal blindness.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am organizing the research for Book 3 in the Monastery Murders while my publisher prepares Book 2, A DARKLY HIDDEN TRUTH for publication. Book 3 will be set in Wales and involves Antony and Felicity directing a Youth Walk to Welsh pilgrimage sites. For preparation I will visit these sites in Wales, then join a Youth Walk from London to Walsingham (126 miles) as an overage pilgrim.

5) Parting comments?
I am so thankful to be able to live out my passion by telling stories of the Christian history of Britain. I pray that my readers will catch a new vision of the treasured heritage that is ours to live and to share.

I love mystery stories that take place in England and Scotland. YOur books are new to me but not for long. I can't wait to read this one and I'm going to look for others. Thank you so much for sharing your book with me....Blessings,Heidiheidijohnjeff@verizon.net

I have read Donna Crows books in the past, and have not read any new ones for years. This book sounds like a great book to read. Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks for the chance to win.Debbiedebbiemcla[at]msn[dot]com

Since it's Valentine's Day, I wrote each entrant's name on a slip of paper, put the papers in a heart-shaped pan and asked my Valentine to draw. He chose Pattie, who says she loves mysteries set in the UK. A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE will be on its way to you this week, Pattie. Hope you enjoy.

Thank you all for entering and thank you K. Dawn for being a great hostess.